Tool for handling open-ended retaining rings



April 13, 1948. R. FElTL ET AL TOOL FOR HANDLING OPEN-ENDED RETAINING RINGS Filed Feb. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet}.

April 13, 1948. R. FEITL ET AL TOOL FOR HANDLING OPEN-ENDED RETAINING-RINGS Filed Feb. 19, 1945 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1948 N 'l T E!) TOOL FOR HANDLING OPENQENDED RETAINING RINGS BudolfFeitl, Bmolslyn, and HuguW rzl, 13. 101 2 .Yhass rs t Wa des KQhoor,Inc,-, Longlsland City, N. Y., attorporation of; New

York

AIi-P k iim b timt 45,. S r ti ;N 5183533 required to be ex rted on the h dle o such plier-type handling tools .to'spreadan, external ring sufiiciently sothat. it. canbe slipped QYer and then shifted, axiallylalong the shait. tothe .plane .qfits seating ove, or to contractor compr s .an internalring he required.amounttnat it ean be vinserted into. ahousinghore andthereupon shifted to itsgroove, are remarkablyhigh for-the larger size rings and, in the case of ring sizes-of .s inche ong eater, oanamount to approximately 50.1bs. Whilethe requisi spreadin o contracting-forces. can be obtalnedhy increasing the length of th v' lier handles thus to obtain v additi nal operat n ever e-such provis on d not relieve theoperatm of the requirement of h ldin a th o l handles. clos d ag inst t e tension of the spre,ad. or: cont acted ring sorthat the handlingiofnthe. ring as. aforesaid represents ,a diffieultand t ne om ioneratienand one di fii ul to control. Moreoverras the-rin is :shiftedz nto the; plane of the-groove in whiQh it istoseat, it is vnece.ssa'iryt irelease-the force on the t o andles sothat the. ring een spring into, its groove. Inthe absence of any m ans: incorporatedinto rior ring handling t ol for efiec ting the grad alrelease of the handles, such releaseusua iy ta e plac quite suddenly (and, result -,inii Ba ;ti of th ingragainstthe-remove button, whi h s likely; to

:damag the'g etaQnthe walls; there f, particularly if. rin -pf. high. hard ess-str kes against a gIZQOVe-P 'OVlQBd in a shaft orxhonsing of substantially softer material.

w-Accordingly. aiirincipalh ie t of hein i is rt ipm ide tools J91 handl ng 1 :open-ended. r a nin rin having, spa ial provision 1". s q-1.

'ihg he han l v a a nst lsel -ppenine unde the tensionof; the ring .with' which the tool. is onpled, whereby the operator is relieved of therequirevment of: holding thehtool handles closed by manually applied force. Another. important i ob ect of the invention visto provide a to ol of the stated.

cha a ter whither ncqrb ates ei ct s sn-bmsteprelease. Qft rin whe eby its movemen intoithefl roo e i sraciuala d c n be conroi edty thejciperatq Aiurther object f h .invention.. .s.,to. prq i eia tQQLL pr hand n op nendedretaining t n incorpo a in ean for positively lq in thetooi handle aga n t ten e a a in heinseq i cteti or m e. with a ste -h -step inq io Whe e the p r is, to, a silbstantialextent. relieved of the requirement tor manua ly QlQSin s ch h e o specifi iobieqts f th in ion are toprovide a rug-gedand thoroughl dependabl QO for ha d ine pen-ended etai ing rin hart b y Of h rlarser i fistin their as mbl d disassemhil y v which. moreo ertharacterizeii b mp .mexnensi e eonst iic ion an -whichi cap ble 0 e n ea ly aiidzsim l pe at Other a ieqts wil be in pa t. obviou and in pa he eina t intadro t in eonne tion th h o lo g analysisof this. nven ion r inar i u rated in detai sei ctede ibodi en of t in ention...

in th draw ngs: I

.Fi li a ace iewof. tqolacqo id ns t th invention for spreading and handling external reta n rin s, th -.to.Q1 handles, .he ngo show in their nm itio w iid the lier t s in th i in osed nQsitiQnas req re iiori thains rtion of: th

w rkin p ints .int thaa e tiired. ea s. rme Q the. ringtqhesmfeagl.liponchasin movem n o the handl s;

2 is a views miia t .Figi. hu h in h tool hand es in their c osed. PQfitiQnfihd t t points. i theirspread p isit onq oes ondi t th p eadin s ion. oither n with Wh chsiish a tool is coup fiil;

Fig. 3 a iace wioia modifiedtoo tarpo tracting and handiingi i er ial. and, urthe lustta ne a means. to: e ectin pos ti e, s pbristepi llos ngr-m vamen 9f. the. toe h ndles; and

Finvis .als ctiqnalq isiih s 4 -4 Qfv=Re er in ,tathateqi i h st attd i g 1 n .2 of the iirawin sireiersme.tharacters m and V l l islesi nate a air 9i levers mor rt ul referred to s toolll hlidlh which areiii a y onnac e iby api x endin h u s m ci cu a ih ssesfli Mi rmed 9 thehahdl th latte i erminatin iattheir one end in plier i 16am], 1. Toth u ioresa d tips a e conne ed.

foruexample by spot=welding, riveting Q l i in on, the working points [8, I9 which are adapt tohe inserted .intothe apertured ears usually formed at lth open ends "or an ex e nal v in -t assist in their xSW53ailing .and handling. Sflhi to the other ends of the levers or handles l and I l are handle extensions l0, H which are preferably of channel or U-section and which may be sufliciently long as to provide adequate leverage for operating the handles against the tension of the relatively large-size retaining rings, for example.

According to the invention, a, ratchet segment 20 is pivoted at its one end to one of the handle extensions H by a pin or rivet 2| spanning the sides of the U-formed handle, the segment being provided with an offset arm 23 which is engaged by a leaf spring 24 secured at one end, to the arm as by a rivet 25, the other end of the-spring abutting, as shown, against a pin 26 arranged within the U-bend of the handle extension ll Spring 24 functions through actuating arm 23 to urge the ratchet segment 20 in counter-clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2) The ratchet segment along its relatively inner (upper) longitudinal edge is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 21 engageable by a. cooperating pawl 29 carried by the other handle extension [0; The relatively outer longitudinal edge of the ratchet segment is alsoprovided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 28 which are disposed oppositely to the ratchet teeth 21 and are adapted to cooperate with a pawl 30 which is also carried by the handle Ill and is oppositely disposed relative to the pawl 29. Preferably, the oppositely disposed pawls 29,30 are carried by arms 3|, 32 arranged to provide. a, housing-like guide extension secured withinthe U-bend of the handle [0, and into whichthe free end of the ratchet segment is adapted to move as the handles are moved relatively towards one another. Moreover, the pawls 29, 30 are so spaced from each other that if the-inner teeth 21 are caught by the pawl 29, the outer teeth 28 are just free of the pawl 38, and vice versa. Accordingly, one of the inner or outer teeth 21, 28 is always caught by one or th other of the pawls 29, 30. It will be observed also that spring 24 tends normally to maintain the ratchet segment in position so that its inner edge teeth 2'! are engageable by the pawl With the construction so far described, it will appear that as the handle extensions II' are moved in closing direction, 1. e. toward one another, ratchet segment 20 moves into the guide 3|,

32, the inner teeth 21 thereof riding over the. pawl 29 during such handle closing movement as permitted by the action of spring 24. However, in any in-betwe'en or in the fully closed position of the handles, the. latter are secured against selfopening movement under the tension of the spread ring by the holding engagement of pawl 29 with one of the ratchet teeth 21. ingly, not only is the tool. as described capable of self-locking itself against handle opening movement, following closing of the handle either to a fully closed position or to any in-between position, but also the closed tool and the ring coupled thereto can safely be held in one hand by the operator in shifting the same along a shaft, for example, to'the plane of its seating groove. To release the ring, i. e. unlock the tool handles, it is only necessary to depress the actuating arm 23 against the action of spring 24', thereby to swing the ratchet arm in clockwise direction and accordingly to disengage the teeth 2'! from pawl29.

The. above described arrangement also provides means forefiecting step-by-step release of the locking means whereby the spread ring can Accordbe gradually and controllably sprung into its seating groove without impacting the bottom or side walls thereof. To this end, the inner and outer ratchet teeth 21, 28 are staggered or relatively spaced from each other in linear direction the distance of approximately one-half the pitch distance between teeth.

Thus, assuming the handles to be locked closed by engagement of pawl 29 with one of the inner ratchet teeth 21, the actuating arm '23 is depressed, whereupon the ratchet segment 20 is swung to a position that the teeth 28 may be engagedby the pawl 30. Due to the staggering of the oppositely arranged ratchet teeth, each operation of the actuating arm 23 results in release of the handles under the tension of the retaining ring a, distance corresponding to half the pitch distance between ratchet teeth. Upon relieving hand pressure on the actuating arm 23, spring 24 functions to return the ratchet segment 20 to its normal position, whereupon the next of the inner teeth 21 is engaged by the pawl 29. Accordingly, for a full back and forth operation of the ratchet segment as described, the tool handles are controllably opened a distance corresponding to the full pitch distance between teeth. It follows that by successive operations of the actuating arm 23, as described, the handles may be released with a step-by-step motion, permitting accurate controlled seating of the retainingring held by the tool points l8, 19 in its groove. It will be observed also that the step-by-step release of the handles can be effected with one hand, leaving the other hand .free to hold or steady another part, such as the machine part, or the ring, in a required position.

By mounting the ratchet segment 20 and pawls 29 and 30 within the space between the handies, the length of the ratchet segment may be made relatively short, so that the free end of the segment does not project substantially beyond handle extension Hi, even in the closed position of the handles and accordingly, the segment provides no interference in assembling the ring or in shifting the same into limited spaces as, for example, into a bore space disposed about the shaft on which the ring is to be assembled. It will be noted alsothat the free end of the ratchet segment 20, may be formed free of the ratchet teeth, because the force required in the first closing movement of the handles is not substantial, and hence there exists no requirement for selflocking the handles against self-opening in preliminarily tensioning the ring.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Figs.

3 and 4, the tool therein shown is of the type adapted to compress or contract internal rings which form artificial shoulders within a, housing bore, for example. Said tool comprises crossed arms providing plier tips 34, 35 terminatingin the working oints 36, 31, the crossed arms being pivoted at 38 and forming handle shanks 40, 4|. As shown, handle extensions 40', 4| of channel or U-section may be coupled to the handle shanks to provide necessary leverage for handling rings of the larger sizes.

As shown, the illustrated tool is provided with means for locking the handles against self-opening movement under the tension of a contracted internal ring, for example, as generally described in connection with ,the prior modification, such comprising a ratchet segment 42 pivoted as at 43 to the handle extension 4| and provided with an offset actuating arm which is spring-tensioned by a leaf spring 45 in the manner of the prere earse --viously described arm-.23. .fIheir-atchetzsegment ;dle;extension' 46'. ,FIheLteethI i-B ,-1'41;.a're relatively staggered .a :distance :corresponding :to half the pitch rdistancezbetween teeth :wherfebyeasxthezam' tuating: arm-441s depressed intclockwisedire'ction,

the ratchet segment is turned clockwise-wotibring :the outer teeth :47. thereof, into. engagement .with

- the .paw1s4 with release of thethandle. returning .theratchetsegment :to theposition inzwhich teeth dfizareengagedlby thepawlm.

.zAccordingly, as the handles areem'oved in closing direction "to contract. a. ring coupled" on :to -the:working;pointszl36,; 3'1 of'the toOLithepaWl-rand ratchet members-react functionsito lock the' han- .dles against self-opening movement under the tension .of the -.contI-'a'cted ring. *In; conjunction therewith, theprovision of the paivland ratchet members ll, 49 and the relative dispositionmf ratchetteeth G permit step-by-step opening of thehandles and gradual release of the retaining ring so that it may seat gently into the groove provided for its=reception,-all-as described in connection with the ,prior modification.

According to a further featureoi xthe invention, means are provided for positivelyclosing the handles 40, M against the tension of the retaining ring being constracted :with a stepebyistep motion. As shown, ,suchgmeans comprises a-zpiw oted handle portion..5il..adapteidzto be raise'dxand loweredrelativeto. the. handle :extension lkil =ahout the .axis :of .a connecting .pin F51. Retnactible within the connected end. of s-the 1 pivoted 1 handle portion is adriving head 215:3 :provided with a plurality of teeth. 54,. .55. adapted to meslmviththe outer ratchet teeth dl. Thevhead 53 is normally urged .to .its relativel outward position by a spring 56- operative between :the :rear end -of the head and the abutment 51 formed in the handle portion 50. Through the provision of a head slot 52 through which the pin extends, the head may retract within the handle portion 53 a distance corresponding to the length of the slot. Pins 59, 60 engage against straight side wall portions of the head to prevent turning movement thereof independently of the handle portion 50.

In the normal or hand operation of the tool, the handle portion 50 is swung to its full line position illustrated in Fig. 3, being held against further movement past said full line position by its mounting as shown in the handle extension 69. As the ratchet segment 42 is projected through the handle extension 48, consequent to movement of the handles in closing direction, the teeth 41 of the segment ride freely past the teeth 53, 55 of the driving head due to the ability of the head to retract within the handle portion 50. However, when it is desired to positively actuate or drive the handles in closing direction, the handle portion 55 is swung upwardly to its dotted line position, resulting in swinging of the head 53 downwardly to a position in alignment therewith. With spring 55 acting to urge the head outwardly of the handle portion 56, so that its teeth 55. 55 mesh with the ratchet teeth 41, downward movement of handle portion 5% to its full line position forces the ratchet segment through the handle the approximate distance between teeth 41. By successive operations of the handle portion 50 as aforesaid, the handles are progressively moved rate .a fully :closed :posi- :tion or itosanyf'interme'diate :p'osition desired for 33, particular rassenribly "operation. During "such positive closing movement pawl and ratchet memrbersc-fldidt secure'..the'handle against self-openvingiun'der the tension'iof the retaining ring which 315 beingcontracted:in-consequen'ce of the step-by- -step closing. of the handles.

In addition .to providing-a simple means for .effecting:'positivestep by step closing- 0f th'e hanidles, the above described arrangement provides onelin iwhich the closing force is reduced-accords ing to the ratio between the distance-of ratchet segment 42 from-"p'in- 38, on the one hand, and thedistance of'rthe segmentfrom pin 5|, on'the .otherhand. Accordingly the positive closing of I-theihan'dles may be-effected with little efiort on 't'hepartof the-operator.

Assumingthe -handles tobe closed either by 'the normal or-han'd operation ofthe tool, or by :the' positive-step-bwstep' closing operation as last described, control-led step-by-step opening of the handles -is'effectedas with the Figs. 1 and 2 modification, since--the retractible mounting of the driving-head -53 permits said "head to retract as the ratchet segment-4'2 isswung "clockwise (Fig. 3) by depression of the actuating arm- 44, thus permitting pawl 49 to act on the ratchet teeth '4! just as-if-the'driving'head were omitted.

Without *further'analysis it will be observed that ring handling tools provided with the selflocking attachment'as-proposed herein permit spreading or com-pressing of a ringin simple manner and thereupon provide forsecuring the handles against-selfmpening, with the end result 'that""fo-llowi-ng the desired spreading or compressingof' the" ring thc'operator is under no re- 'quirement to hold-thetool handles closed but, on the'contrary, maysh'ift the ring as necessary in assembly or disassembly 'by holding'the tool with one hand. 'This leavesthe otherhand free either for operation oftheirelease'handles23, 44, or for steadying or positioning other parts involved in the assembly of the ring. In the use of the driving attachment as shown in Fig. 3, one tool hamdle may be held by one hand of the operator and the driving handle portion 50 may be actuated by the other hand of the operator. Thereupon, the tool and contracted ring may be safely held with one hand during the required handling of the ring.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

We claim:

1. A plier-type tool of the character described comprising a pair of levers and means pivotally connecting said levers together intermediate their ends, the ends of the levers to one side of the pivot means constituting plier tips terminating in working points and the other ends constituting handles which are adapted to be brought together upon couplin of the working points with a work piece, and means for locking said handles against self-spreading and for allowing controlled spreading of the handles including an elongated ratchet member pivotally connected to one handle and extending between said handles, the opposite 1ongitudinal edges of said ratchet member each having a series of ratchet teeth, the teeth of one edge series being staggered relative to the teeth .7 7 of the other edge series, oppositely disposed pawls afiixed to the other handle, said pawls being spaced from one another so that one or the other edge series of teeth are always engageable by one or the other pawl, means normally operative to maintain the ratchet member in a position wherein the teeth of one edge series thereof are engageable by one of said pawls, and means for swinging the ratchet member in opposite direction, thereby to effect release of an engaged tooth, and simultaneously to a position wherein the teeth of the other edge series are engageable by the other pawl.

2. A plier-type tool of the character described comprising a pair of levers and means 'pivotally connecting said levers together intermediate their ends, the ends of the levers to one side of the pivot means constituting plier tips terminating in working points and the other ends constituting handles which are adapted to be brought together.

upon coupling of the working points with a work piece, and means for locking said handles against self-spreading and for allowing controlled spreading of the handles including an elongated ratchet member pivotally connected to one handle and extending between said handles, the opposite longitudinal edges of said ratchet member each having a series of ratchet teeth, the teeth of one edge series being staggered relative to the teeth of the other edge series, oppositely disposed pawls and means mounting them on the other handle in fixed relation and spaced so that one or the other edge series of teeth are always engageable by one or the other pawl, spring means normally urging said ratchet member to a position wherein the teeth of one edge series thereof are engageable by one of said pawls, and an actuating arm carried by the ratchet member for actuating the same out of said position, thereby to effect release of an engaged tooth, and simultaneously to a position wherein the teeth of the other edge series are engageable by the other pawl.

3. A plier-type tool as set forth in claim 1, in

combination with means for effecting positive step-by-step closing movement of the handles including a pivoted end section on the other handle, a retractible driving head carried by said end section having teeth normally disposed in meshing engagement with the teeth of one edge series thereof, and means mounting said end section and driving head for swinging movement in unison thereby to ratchet said other handle along the ratchet member and in the direction of said one handle.

4. A plier-type tool as set forth in claim 2, in combination with means for effecting positive step-by-step closing movement of the handles including a pivoted end section on the other handle, a retractible driving head carried by said end section having teeth normally disposed in meshing engagement with the teeth of one edge series thereof, and means mounting said end section and driving head for swinging movement in unison thereby to ratchet said other handle along the ratchet member and in the direction of said one handle.

RUDOLF FEI'I'L. HUGO WURZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

